Reciprocating pump for food materials



' Oct. 20, 1953 R. A. YOHPE 2,655,870 ascrpaocxrmc PuuP FOR F000 MATERIALS Filed Oct. 22, 1947 .2 Sheets-Sh dot 3 INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEY [227mm 17, Yak 0e Oct. 20, 1953 R. A. YOHPE v RECIPROCATING PUMP FOR FOOD MATERIALS Filed Oct. 22, 1947 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 f 4 w x 1 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 20, 1953 RECIPROCATING PUMP FOR FOOD MATERIALS Reinhard A. Yohpe, Battle Creek, Mich., assignor to Union Steam Pump Company, Battle Creek, Mich., a corporation of Michigan 1 Application October 22, 1947, Serial No. 781,420

15 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in reciprocating pump for food materials.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved pump cylinder assembly for homogenizers and other applications requiring a sanitary type of pump which is capable of delivery at high pressure and one in which the parts can be readily disassembled for cleaning and sterilizing and again readily assembled.

Second, to provide a cylinder assembly for a pump of the type indicated which incorporates an improved method for adjustment of the plunger packing and which permits adjustment of the packing from the side of thecylifider block opposite the side at which theplu'ngers enter the cylinder by adjustment of the cylinder bore closure fastening.

Third to provide a cylinder assembly of the type indicated in which all the parts which are assembled in or through the cylinder bores or occupy positions in the cylinder bores and which require removal for satisfactory cleaning, may

1 be removed through the ends of the cylinder bores opposite that at which the plungers enter the cylinder bores.

Fourth, to provide a cylinder assembly of the type indicated which without requiring. additional parts provides for a substantial reduction in the clearance volume or the volume contained in the space between the suction and discharge valves, as compared with conventional types of construction.

Fifth, to provide a structure embodying these advantages which is capable of rapid assembly and disassembly by hand or light tools for complete cleaning and sterilizing.

Sixth, to provide a modified type of cylinder assembly of the type indicated having conventional glands which permit adjustment and removal of the plunger packing from the side of the cylinder block at which the plungers enter, and which if desired may permit adjustment and removal of the plunger packing from either side of the cylinder block.

Seventh, to provide a cylinder assembly of the type indicated incorporating valve springs which are easy to clean and overcome the objections of sanitary authorities to conventional valve springs.

Eighth, to provide a pump of the class described having means for discharging cooling and cleaning fluid upon the plunger in which the power unit is effectively protected.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a homogenizer embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view mainly in vertical section on a line corresponding to line 2--2 'of Figs. 3 and 5.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in transverse section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig, 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded view showing the parts of one pump unit in disassembled relation.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary ,view in sec- I tion on a line corresponding to line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view mainly in section of a modified form or embodiment of the invention.

I have illustrated the invention as embodied by me in a machine commonly designated as a homogenizer which is adapted for the treatment v of milk, cream, and other food products such as salads, ice cream mixes and the like.

In the structure illustrated, the housing I is designed to contain the power unit including the motor and transmission and other parts, the details of which form no part of the present invention. 2 represents one of the plunger rods. This plunger rod extends forwardly through a packing gland 3 provided with packings 4, the gland being provided with a drip opening 5. It is highly important that the material pumped and the water which may be used as a coolant do not enter the power mechanism housed within the housing I.

The cylinder block 6 is mounted on the front end of the housing, the mounting means not being illustrated. This cylinder block is provided with a plurality of cylinder bores I and as the bores and associated parts are duplicates a de-' scription of one will suffice.

The cylinder bore 1 is stepped, having a reduced portion 8 at its inner end terminating in a shoulder 9.

The packing throat I0 is arranged in the reduced portion of the cylinder bore in supported engagement with the shoulder 9. The cylinder sleeve H has a reduced inner portion I2 which extends into the reduced portion 8 of the bore and coacts as a gland member with the packing [3 arranged between the cylinder sleeve and the packing throat.

The cylinder bore is provided with an inlet port i4 and an outlet port l5, these ports being surrounded by valve seats for the inlet valve I6 and the outlet valve l1. These valves are of the poppet type.

The cylinder sleeve H is provided with ports or' openings l8 and is flattened at l9 to permit free passage of the fluid pumped from the inlet port to the outlet port. One of the flattened areas i9 acts as a stop for the inlet valve l6. The cylinder bore is provided with a cap or closure 20 flanged to receive the stud bolts 2| on the cylinder block, nuts 22 being provided for securing and clampingly retaining the closure member. a

The closure member fits within the bore and has a reduced inner end 23 extending into the end of the cylinder sleeve. This reduced inner end provides a shoulder 24 which is opposed to the end of the cylinder sleeve so that the gasket or packing 25 is clamped between the end of the 2 cylinder sleeve and-the shoulder of the closure member. The cylinder sleeve ii thus forms a spacing member between the irmer packing i3 and the outer gasket or packing 25.

A longitudinal groove or recess 26 receives the lug 21 on the cylinder sleeve so that the cylinder sleeve is held against rotative movement and is properly positioned to align its ports with the inlet and outlet ports. The closure 20 is located in proper angular position with respect to the cylinder bore by means of the bolts 2i which thus serve three purposes of securing the closure member against hydraulic pressure, providing for adjustment of the plunger packings and'of properly locating the closure 20 as just described.

The inlet valve i6 is provided with a U-shaped seating or biasing spring 28 which is supported by the cylinder sleeve. The ends of the spring closely engage the walls of the inlet port and abut against the cylinder sleeve. The center 'of the spring is received and retained in a slot in the upper end of the inlet valve. When the cylinder sleeve is removed, the inlet valve and its spring may be removed through the cylinder bore.

The cylinder block is provided with a valve chamber 29 for the outlet valve I! which is provided with a U-shaped seating or biasing spring 28A corresponding to the spring of the inlet valve. The ends of this spring engagethe walls of the bore of the outlet chamber and abut against the closure 30 of the chamber 29 which opens outwardly so that when the closure is removed the outlet valve and its spring may be removed. The center of this spring is retainingly received in a slot in the upper part of the valve. The closure 30 is secured by means of the stud bolts 3i and 32. A packing 33 is provided for the closure.

As stated, the pump units of which there are three in the structure illustrated are the same.

' The inlet valve ports are all connected to the inlet passage 34. The outlet chambers or valve chambers 29 are all connected by the outlet pas-.

sage 35. The pump plungers or pistons 36 are provided with threaded stud-like extensions 31 while the plunger rod 2 is provided with a bore which is adapted to engage thev rear end of the packing throat after the plunger has been disconnected from the plunger rod, so that the plunger may be used as a tappet to drive the packing throat I 9, cylinder sleeve ii and packing l3 out of the cylinder bore. The rear end of the cylinder bore is of such dimension that the plunger can be removed through the front end of the cylinder bore. This same operation may also serve to loosen the cylinder bore closure in the event that it is stuck in place by its gasket or packing.

With this arrangement, the plunger is provided with an effective packing even under high pressures. The cylinder is effectively sealed at the front end, at the same time the parts may all be readily removed from the front of the pump for cleaning or sterilizing. The inner surface of the flange on the closure member 20 is normally spaced from the outer surface of the cylinder block so that adjustment of the plunger packing I 3 and closure packing 25 may be obtained by adjustment of the nuts 23 and closure 20.

In order to cool the plungers and to dissolve deposits from them and sometimes for thepurpose of lubrication, water, or other liquid is applied to the plungers of a pump of the type indicated and a problem in this connection has been to maintain a substantially constant flow of water to the plungers so that sumcient is applied at all times without excess water being sprayed about which creates an undesirable appearance and aggravates the problem of keeping water out of the driving mechanism of the pump. This difficulty is due to pressure variations in the water supply line, and in the embodiment illustrated means are provided for overcoming this diiliculty.

In the first embodiment illustrated the cylinder block-is provided with a boss-like extension 4| for each cylinder. The boss-like extension'has a passage 42 therein opening above the plunger- 7 and this passage is connected by the delivery connection 43 to a water supply conduit 44, this supply conduit being provided with a valve 45. In order that the operator may observe when a" proper supply of water is being delivered an over flow 45 is provided, this being in a plane above the plane of the connections 43. It is the intent that the valve 45 shall be adjusted so that water will drip from the overflow and thus the operator will be assured that a proper supply of water is being delivered to the plunger. An increase of pressure in the water supply line will increase the flow through the overflow but will not materially increase the flow tions 43.

As pointed out, it is desirable that water shall not reach the power unit mechanism. To prevent that, in addition to the packings 4, a drip well 41 is provided and a baflie 48 is mounted on the plunger rod so that the waterthereon will not through the delivery connec- .travel backwardly along the plunger rod. A cover se'mbled and disassembled; The cylinder sleeve,

plunger packings, valves, valve springs and the packing throat may be readily removed as oocasion requires. The plunger packing i3 and closure packing 25 are preferably made of resilient material so that a tight seal is obtained without undue compressive force and only finger tightening or light wrench tightening of the nuts 22 is required to adjust the packings. Note that the cylinder sleeve acts as a filler in the cylinder bore to reduce the clearance volume of the pump chamber so that air is easily purged from the 'pump.

In the modified form of my pump shown in Figure 6, a gland 56 is incorporated at the end of the cylinder bore at which the plunger enters and takes the place of the shoulder in the cylinder bore in the arrangement shown by Fig. 2. The gland is adjustably secured and permits a greater degree of flexibility in regard to the quantity of plunger packing or total length of packing space for each plunger. The arrangement is otherwise similar to that of Fig. 2. In this arrangement the gland 55' is normally not removed for cleaning as it is not in the liquid zone and disassembly of the other parts may be accomplished in the same manner as with the arrangement of Fig. 2, the parts being removable through the end of the bore opposite the gland, and the bore through the gland being of sufficient diameter to permit the largest diameter of the plunger to pass through. With this arrangement the gland 55 may be adjusted against the packing throat 54 to compensate for wear of the plunger packing l3 instead of adjusting the closure at the opposite end of the bore, in which case the inner face of the flange on the closure 20 would normally be drawn up to the face of the cylinder block. 56 is a cooling fluid passage opening to v the inner end or the plunger and serving the same purpose as passage 42 in Fig. 2.

' I have illustrated and described the improvements in highly practical embodiments thereof, these, as stated, being adaptations to pumps for handling food materials.

I have not attempted to illustrate and describe other embodiments or adaptations which I contemplate as it is believed that the disclosures made will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt the invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a pump having a cylinder block provided with a cylinder bore opening therethrough and having inlet and outlet ports opening laterally to the sides of the bore, the combination of a packing throat disposed within the cylinder bore at its inner end and removable through its outer end, a cylinder sleeve disposed within said bore and removable through the outer end thereof, said sleeve having holes formed therein registering with said ports, a packing arranged between the adjacent ends of said packing throat and cylinder sleeve, a closure for the outer end of .said cylinder bore having a portion fitting therein and having a portion of reduced diameter at its inner end projecting into the outer end of the cylinder sleeve with a shoulder .opposed to the outer end of the cylinder sleeve, the reduced portion of said closure and said cylinder sleeve having co-engaging parts preventing relative rotative movement between the sleeve and the closure, means nonrotatably clamping said closure to said block, and a packing disposed between the outer end of said cylinder sleeve and said shoulder on" said closure.

2. In a pump having a cylinder block provided with a cylinder bore opening therethrough and having inlet and outlet ports-opening laterally to rotation relative to said block, and inlet and out-- let valves positioned in said'inlet and outlet ports, said sleeve having holes formed therein and overlying the inner ends oi!v said ports with the holes adjacent to the ports and communicating therew t 3. In a pump having a cylinder block provided with a cylinder bore opening therethrough and having an inlet port formed therein and opening laterally to the side of the bore, the combination of a portion of reduced diameter in said bore forming a shoulder extending radially of the bore and positioned adjacent the inner end thereof, a packing throat disposed within the bore and against said shoulder and removable through the outer end of the bore, a cylinder sleeve disposed within said bore outwardly of said throat and removable through the outer end thereof said sleeve having a hole formed therein registering with said port and having a portion overlapping a portion of said port, a packing arranged be tween the adjacent ends of said throat and said cylinder sleeve, a removable and adjustable clossure for the outer end of said cylinder bore secured to said block for adjustment axially of said bore, and 'a valve positioned in said port and blocked from removal therefrom by said portion of said sleeve overlapping said port, said valve being smaller in diameter than said bore whereby the valve is removable through said bore when said closure and said sleeve are removed.

4. In a pump having a cylinder block provided with a cylinder bore opening therethrough, the combination of a packing throat disposed within the inner end of said cylinder bore, a cylinder sleeve disposed within said bore outwardly of said throat and removable through the outer end of the bore, a packing arranged between theadjacent ends of said throat and cylinder sleeve,

a closure for the outer end of saidcylinder bore, means adjustably clamping said closure to said block for adjusting movement axially of said bore, a packing disposed between the outer end of said cylinder sleeve and said closure, and a plunger reciprocable through the inner end of said bore and said throat and being of such outside diameter as to be removable through the outer end of said cylinder bore when said cylinder sleeve and said throat are removed, said plunger having a radially projecting shoulder at its inner end adapted to engage said throat and act as a drive element to remove said throat with said plunger.

5. In a pump having a cylinder block provided with a cylinder bore opening therethrough, the combination of a packing throat disposed within said cylinder bore at the inner end thereof,

and removable through the outer end of the transmitting relation to said sleeve, and a plunger reciprocable through the inner end of said bore and said throat and having an outer 6. In a pump having a-cylinder block with a cylinder bore opening therethrough and having inlet and outlet ports formed therein opening transversely into the sides of the bore, the combination of a portion of reduced diameter at the inner end of said bore and a portion of further reduced diameter at the inner end of said first portion with a radially extending shoulder between said reduced portions, a packing throat constituting a plunger bearing disposed within the first reduced portion and against said shoulder and removable through the outer end of said bore, a cylinder sleeve disposed within said bore in closely fitting relation and removable through the outer end thereof and having a portion of reduced outer diameter extending into the first reduced portion of the cylinder bore, said sleeve having holes formed therein registering with said ports, a packing positioned between the adjacent ends of said throat and said cylinder sleeve, the cylinder sleeve constituting a packing gland element, a closure for the outer end of said cylinder bore, said closure having a flange secured to the face of said block and a portion fitting in said bore with a reduced inner end extending into said sleeve and providing an inwardly facing shoulder on the portion of said closure fitting in said bore, a lug on said sleeve engaged in a groove in said portion of said closure fitting in said bore, means clamping said closure to said block and adapted to adjust the closure axially of said bore, a packing disposed between the outer end of said cylinder sleeve and the shoulder of said closure, inlet and outlet valves positioned in said inlet and outlet ports respectively, U-shaped springs having their bases engaged with said valves to bias said valves, the inlet valve and its spring being removable through the outer end of the cylinder bore when said closure and said cylinder sleeve are removed, a cap removably secured to said block over said outlet valve port and constituting a support for said outlet valve spring, the cylinder sleeve constituting a support for the inlet valve spring, a plunger reciprocatingly mounted in said sleeve and projecting through said throat, said plunger being adapted at its projecting end for releasable connection to a reciprocable driving member, and a shoulder on the projecting end of said plunger, said v shoulder of said plunger being smaller than said bore permitting removal of the plunger through the outer end of said bore and being adapted for use as a tappet to engage said packing throat to drive said throat and said sleeve throu h the outer end of the said bore.

7. In a pump having a cylinder block provided with a cylinder bore opening therethrough and having inlet and outlet ports formed therein opening transversely to the sides of the bore, the combination of a reduced portion at the inner end of said bore and a further reduced portion at the inner end of said first reduced portion with a radially extending shoulder between said reduced portions, a packing throat constituting a plunger bearing disposed within said first reduced portion and against said shoulder and removable through the outer end of the bore, a cylinder sleeve disposed within said bore in closely fitting relation and removable through the outer end thereof and having a portion of reduced outer diameter at its inner end extending into the first reduced portion of the cylinder bore, said sleeve having holes formed therein registering with said ports, a packing arranged between the adjacent ends of said throat and said cylinder sleeve, the cylinder sleeve constituting a packing gland element, a closure for the outer end of said cylinder bore and having tween the outer end of said cylinder sleeve and the portion-of said closure within said bore, inlet and outlet valves located in said inlet and outlet ports respectively, and springs engaged with said valves to bias said valves, a cover removably secured to said block over the outlet valve port to permit the removal of the outlet valve and its spring, the inlet valve and its spring being removable through the outer end of the cylinder bore when said closure and said cylinder sleeve are removed, said cover over said outlet port constituting an abutment for said outlet valve spring, said sleeve constituting an abutment for said inlet valve spring.

8. In a pump having a cylinder block with a cylinder bore opening therethrough and having inlet and outlet ports formed therein opening transversely to the sides of the bore, the combination of a reduced portion at the inner end of said bore with a radially extending [shoulder between the outer portion of the bore and said reduced portion, a packing throat constituting a plunger bearing disposed within said bore and against said shoulder and removable through the outer end of the said bore, a cylinder sleeve disposed within said bore and removable through the outer end thereof, said sleeve having holes formed therein registering with said ports, a packing positioned between the adjacent ends of said throat and said cylinder sleeve, the cylinder sleeve constituting a packing gland element, a closure for the outer end of said cylinder bore and having a portion extendinginto said bore and having reduced inner portion projecting into the outer end of the cylinder sleeve and having a shoulder opposed to the outer end of the cylinder sleeve, the reduced inner portion 0! said closure having a longitudinal groove therein and the cylinder sleeve having a lug engaged in said groove whereby relative rdtative movement between the sleeve and closure is prevented, a packing disposed between the outer end of said cylinder sleeve and said shoulder of said closure, attaching means adjustably clamping said closure to said block for adjusting movement axially of said bore, inlet and outlet valves in said inlet and outlet ports respectively, springs engaged with said valves to bias said valves, a cover removably secured to said block over the'outlet valve port to permit the removal of the outlet valve and its spring, the inlet valve and its spring being removable through the cylinder bore when said closure and said cylinder sleeve are removed, saidcylinder sleeve constituting a backing for the inlet valve spring.

9. In a pump having a cylinder block provided with a cylinder bore opening therethrough and having inlet and outlet ports formed therein 9 opening laterally to the sides of the bore, the combination of a cylinder sleeve closely and slidably fitted within said bore and removable through the outer end thereof, a closure removably secured to said block over the outer end of said cylinder bore, inlet and outlet valves positioned in'said ports to close said inlet and outlet ports, springs engaged with said valves to bias said valves to closed position, the outlet port extending to the outside of said block and being of suiiicient size to permit removal of the outlet valve and its spring, the inlet valve and its spring being of such size as to be removable through the cylinder bore when the closure for the bore and the cylinder sleeve are removed. and a cap removably secured to said block over the end of said outlet port and constituting a support for the outlet valve spring, the cylinder sleeve constituting a support for the inlet valve spring.

10. In a pump having a cylinder block provided with a cylinder bore opening therethrough and having an inlet port opening laterally to the side of the bore, the combination 01 a cylinder sleeve disposed within said bore and removable through one end thereof, a closure removably secured to said block over said one end of said cylinder bore and axially retaining said sleeve in said bore, and an inlet valve positioned in said inlet port, and being. of smaller diameter than said bore, said sleeve having a hole formed therein registering with the inner end oi said port, said sleeve having a portion overlying said inletport and said inlet valve and acting as a retainer to hold said valve in position and permitting removal of said valve from said bore when said sleeve is removed.

11. In a pump having a cylinder block exposed at each end and having a cylinder bore opening through the exposed ends oi the block, the combination of a plunger packing disposed within one end of said bore, a seat in said one end of said bore against which said packing abuts, a plunger projecting through said packing and adapted on its outer end for releasable connection to a reciprocal driving element, a closure positioned over the end of said bore opposite said plunger packing, means adjustably clamping said closure to said cylinderblock for movement axially of said bore, a packing between said closure and said block, a spacing member disposed within said cylinder bore and extending between the plunger packing and the closure packing and unconnected to said closure, adjustment of said plunger packing being obtained by adjustment of position of said closure with respect to said cylinder block, adlusting motion of the closure being transmitted to the plunger packing by the spacer member and the packing for said closure.

12. In a pump having a cylinder block provided with a cylinder bore opening therethrough, the combination of a throat disposed within one end of said cylinder bore and removable through the outer end or the bore, a plunger packin disposed within said bore and against the opposite end of said throat from said one end of said bore and removable through said other end of said cylinder bore, and a plunger pro-.

jecting through said one end of said bore and removable through said other end of said bore and provided with a shoulder on its projecting end adapted to be engaged with the end of said packing throat whereby the. plunger may be used as a tappet for removing the throat and the plunger packing from the cylinder bore.

v13. In a pump having a cylinder block with a cylinder bore open at one end and a valve portopening transversely to the side of the bore, the combination of a closure removably secured to said block over the open end of said bore, a sleeve disposed within said bore and removable through the open end thereof, an inlet valve disposed within said port, and a valve spring in the form of a bar having upturned ends forming diametrically opposed prongs. said spring being secured in position by means of a slot formed in the stem of said valve and through which the center portion of said spring passes and by the rongs of said spring being disposed in laterally supported relation with the wall of said valve port and by abutment of the chamber, and a spring in the form of a straight bar having upturned ends forming diametrically opposed prongs, said spring being secured in position by means of a slot formed in the back side of said valve and through which the center portion of said spring passes and by the prongs of said spring being disposed in laterally supported relation with the wall of said valve chamber and by abutment oi the ends of said prongs against said closure, said valve and spring being removable through the outer end o1 said chamber when said closure is removed.

15. In a pump having a cylinder block with a cylinder bore, the combination or a packing throat disposed within one end of said bore, a gland axially adjustably secured to said cylinder block and bearing against said throat, a closure for said cylinder bore positioned at the opposite end' thereof from said gland, means adjustably clamping said closure to said block for adjusting movement axially of said bore, a spacing sleeve disposed within said bore and in thrust transmitting relation to said closure, and a plunger packing disposed between the adjacent ends of the packing throat and the spacing sleeve, said plunger packing being adjustable by adjustment of said gland.

REINHARD A. YOHPE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Feb. 3, 1899 

